Hydraulic clutch driving assembly



NOV. 10, 1942. KUHNS ET AL HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DRIVING ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 24, 1941 cm 2 i K 7 M/L E. 651585.42. Y

I v I 1 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DRIVING ASSELIBLY Austin Kuhns and Emil B. Gasser. Bufialo, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1941, Serial No. 375,775

2 Claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic clutch driving assembly in which a driving source such as a Diesel engine or electric motor, or other suitable driving source, transmits driving power through hydraulic clutch assembly. The invention is of particular adaptability and advantage in propulsion systems such as marine installation for the rotation in forward or reverse direction of the propeller shaft without having to reverse the direction of the driving source or even stop the driving source.

The variousfeatures 'of the invention are incorporated in the drawing and will become apparent as the description proceeds. 1

The drawing comprises onefigure which is a vertical diametral section of a complete assembly for driving a driving pinion.

On the arrangement shown, a driving shaft ill is keyed to a bushing ll supported in a suitable bearing structure l2, the bushing being connected through a suitable coupling means i3 with the driving shaft l4 of a driving source E which may be a Diesel engine.

The shaft l extends axially of a forward drive hydraulic clutch F, and a reverse drive 25' hydraulic clutch R. The driving or impeller element l5 of the clutch R is bolted to a flange IS on the shaft l0, and the driving or impeller element ll of the clutch F is bolted to the flange I8 (c1. "xi-189.5)

porting frame 3| having the hub 32 surrounding the shaft l0. Extending between the hub and the outer wall of the frame are a number of shafts 33 journaled in bearings and 35 and -'mounting bevel pinions 36 which mesh with the gears 26 and 29. When the clutch F is empty and the clutch R is supplied with working fluid,

the rotation of the impeller element ii of theclutch R will be hydraulically transmitted to the runner element 28 and through the housing 21 to the gear 25,'and if the pinion frame 3| is stationary, the pinions will drive the gear 29 in reverse direction, this reverse driving direction being communicated through the housing 30 and runner element of the clutch F to the shaft 20 for reverse rotation ofthe driving pinion l9.

The clutch R has dumping outlets 31 normally closed by the ring valve 38 on the housing 21, and

the clutch F has dumping outlets 39 normally closed by the valve ring 40 on the housing 30.

' When it is desired to empty either clutch, the

valve ring therefor is shifted axially to expose the dumping outlets, the discharged fluid being received in the housing 4| surrounding the clutch assembly.

The driving shaft l0 and the pinion shaft 28 are bored to receive the valve. in the form of a tube. A stationary fluid inlet housing 42 is mounted adjacent the outer end of the pinion on th haft, so that th impeller l t of 30 shaft and communicates with the interior of the both clutches are always rotated with the shaft.

A driving pinion I9 is supported on a shaft 20 which is journaled in bearing structures 25 and 22, and at. its inner end the shaft 20 has the flange 23 to which the driven or runner element When the clutch F is provided with hydraulic working fluid, the rotation of the primary or driving element H by the shaft Ill will be hydraulically transmitted to the runner element 24 and the shaft 20 for driving of the pinion l9 and I the gear 25 for forward propulsion by the propeller. I

Located between the clutches F and R and concentricwith the shaft I0 is a reversing gearing assembly A. A beveled gear 26 is secured to the clutch housing 21 which is secured to rotate with the runner or driven element 28 of the clutch R, while a similar gear 29 is secured to the housing 30 which is connected to rotate with the driven or runner element 24 of the clutch F.

Between the gears 25 and 29 is the pinion supvalve tube through passages 43 in the head 44 secured in the outer end of the valve. A stem 45 extending from the valve head is journalled in the housing 42 and is surrounded by a stuffing box 46 and terminates in a grooved collar 41 engageable by a lever 48 fulcrumed on the frame 49 mounted on the inlet 42.

The valve tube extends into the bore of the shaft ill for axial shift therein but to rotate therewith as by virtue of a spline connection X and the tube has ports 50 and 5! for registration with the inlets 52 and 53 respectively for the clutches F and R. As shown on the drawing, the valvehas been shifted to its outer position for 45 connection of its port 50 with the inlet for the clutch F, and with its port 5| withdrawn from the inlet 53 of the clutch R. This is the setting for forward drive of the pinion I9 by the clutch F, the clutch R having been emptied. This for- 0 ward drive is from the engine through the shaft I0 and the housing 30 and runner element 24 to the pinion shaft 20.

If reverse drive is desired, the valve 4| is shifted inwardly by operation of the lever 48 to dis- 56 connect at port 50 from the clutch F and to con- The impeller element I! of the clutch R will 5 now be rotated by the engine and, if the pinion frame 3| is stationarily mounted, or is held stationary, the gear 28 which will rotate with the driven or runner element 28 of the clutch R, will rotate the pinions 36 for reverse rotation of the gear 2! and the runner structure 14 of the clutch F and the pinion shaft III for reverse operation of the pinion l8.

For reverse drive by the clutch R, the reversing pinion frame 3| must be held stationary. 15

However, if this frame is stationary during forward driving by the clutch F, the rotation of the driven element 24 of this clutch will be transmitted in reverse direction by the gear 28 to the runner element of the clutch R, and this runner 2o element thus driven, and the impeller element of clutch R driven by the shaft l0, will be rotated in opposite directions, and although the clutch R is emptied of hydraulic working fluid,

it will be filled with air and a resulting resistance 5 suitable form of brake structure may be provided. 30

As shown the brake comprises a brake band 54 around the cylindrical outer side of the frame I! and anchored to a stationary support 55. For forward drive by the clutch F, the brake band 8| may rotate idly without exerting any driving effort on the runner element of the reversing clutch R and therefore eliminating windage loss. For reverse driving by the clutch R, the brake band is set to hold the frame 3| stationary for reverse driving of the gear 29-and the runner structure of the clutch F and the pinion is. During such reverse rotation of the runner element of clutch F, the impeller element will be driven in the opposite direction by the shaft in and windage resistance will be created, but such resistance is not of such importance during reverse driving. .In installations where it is not necessary to eliminate windage losses during forward driving, the reversing pinion frame 3| may be permanently stationarily supported.

The inner portion of the gear 29 is received between flanges 56 and 51 on the shaft Ill, and the gear 26 is backed up by a flange 58' on the shaft II. These flanges will hold the gears in 55 thrust of the working fluid during operation of go the clutches.

With the improved driving assembly and operation shown and described, the driving source E can always rotate in the same direction and need not be stopped during the process of adapt- 6) ing the clutches for either forward or reverse drive. p

We have shown practical and eflicient embodiment of the features of our invention but do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications may be made .without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim as follows: 1. A hydraulic driving assembly comprising a forward driving hydraulic clutch and a reverse driving hydraulic clutch each having an impeller element and a rlmner element and provided with means for dumping hydraulic worldng fluid therefrom, a driving'shaft connected with the impeller elements of said clutches, a driven shaft in axial alignment with said driving shaft and connected to-the runner element of said forward driving clutch whereby when only said forward driving clutch is supplied with working fluid said driven shaft will be driven in forward direction, a reversing gearing assembly connecting the runner elements of said clutches and effective when only said reverse driving clutch is supplied with hydraulic fluid to transmit the rotation of the runner element of said clutch for drive in reverse direction of the runner element of said forward driving clutch and the driven shaft connected therewith, said drivenshaft having an axial bore therethrough and said driving shaft having an axial bore, a valve tube extending through said driven shaft bore and into said driving shaft bore, said valve tube being axially shiftable in said bores and being connected to said driving shaft to rotate therewith, a fluid inlet for the outer end of said valve tube, said valve tube having outlet ports and said clutches having fluid inlets, and means connected with the outer end is released from the frame ll so that the frame 35 of said valve tube for effecting shift thereof for setting of the ports for selective fllling of said clutches.

2. A hydraulic driving assembly comprising a forward driving hydraulic clutch and a reverse driving hydraulic clutch each having an impeller element and a runner element and provided with means for dumping hydraulic working fluid therefrom, a driving shaft connected with the impeller elements of said clutches, a driven shaft in axial alignment with said driving shaft and connected to the runner element of said forward driving clutch whereby when only said forward driving clutch is supplied with working fluid said driven shaft will be driven in forward direction, a reversing gearing assembly connecting the runner elements of said clutches and effective when only said reverse driving clutch is supplied with hydraulic fluid to transmit the rotation of the runner element of said clutch for drive in reverse direction of the runner element of said forward driving clutch and 'the driven shaft connected therewith, said shafts being boredto provide a valve chamber, a valve tube shiftable axially in said chamber but being connected to said driving shaft to rotate therewith, a fluid supply inlet connecting with the outer end of said valve tube for the flow of fluid through said tube, said valve tube having outlet ports and said clutches having inlet passages, and means for shifting said valve tube for setting of said ports for selective filling. of said clutches.

AUSTIN KUHNS. EMIL R. GASSER. 

